Dear friends,
This week is the first of this month that feels a little bit back to a regular schedule, a short interlude of daily life, right before packing my gear for a trip to Portugal next week, shooting motion and stills for a lovely new client.
We were constantly on the move the last weeks, from me shooting a five days campaign for Germany’s federal ministry of labor with a great team to a family trip to Amsterdam. In between, our son turned two, which feels surreal and got me thinking about how fast time passes, especially in the whirlwind of development in a not-so-toddler-like child.
It’s incredible to witness him growing up and developing a sense of expressing himself. Still, at the same time, it’s indeed connected to us growing older and the realization that every decision we take, as a family and professionally, suddenly counts on a massive scale. All the weight and lightness are attached at the same time.
In the few moments in between, on the couch at home, in hotel rooms, and at the bar, I found a good chunk of time to read and work in my sketchbooks again. Coming up is a list of what’s been good and/or valuable this week:
I recently went crazy for the fantastic book How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell. It deeply resonated with me, especially with the prospect of turning 40 this year, sparking a few existential questions.
“Our very idea of productivity is premised on the idea of producing something new, whereas we do not tend to see maintenance and care as productive in the same way.” Jenny Odell, How to Do Nothing.
I enjoyed reading New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz’s tweets. The following one, in particular, amused me. And I immediately bought his book.
Why you should always wear black on set (besides looking badass, obviously). 5 Rules to Help You Dress for Success On Film Sets
A Photo Editor by Rob Haggard has been a staple on my weekly reading list for a couple of years, but the money talks were the most useful. A good example is Pricing & Negotiating: Travel Photography For A Large Financial Institution.
Episode 3 of the much-hyped HBO show The Last Of Us literally left me weeping, and this crazy good piece of writing and acting restored a lot of my faith in humanity. On a side note: Fuck the homophobes!
My friend and long-time office partner Neven Allgeier released his second book, Fading Temples, at Distanz Verlag. Make sure to get a copy of this brilliant dystopian work full of steamy landscapes and intimate portraits. And if you happen to be close to Düsseldorf / Germany, make sure to attend his first solo exhibition at Grisebach, from February 10 to March 17.
I recently asked the infamous and slightly charlatan-esque ChatGPT if there is still a place for photographers in an A.I.-driven world, and this was its response:
”In an AI-driven world, there will always be a place for photographers who bring unique perspectives, creativity, and emotion to their work. While AI and machine learning algorithms have advanced to the point where they can generate images and even process them to some extent, they are still limited in their ability to capture the essence of human experience.
Photographers bring a human touch to their work, and this is something that AI cannot replicate. They have the ability to tell stories, evoke emotions, and capture the beauty and complexity of the world in a way that technology cannot. Additionally, photographers bring a level of expertise and technical skill to their work that AI-generated images simply cannot match.
Therefore, while AI will likely play a larger role in the photography world in the years to come, there will always be a place for photographers who can bring something unique and valuable to the table. Photographers who are able to stay ahead of the curve, by continually evolving and improving their skills, will be best positioned to succeed in an AI-driven world.” PHEW!Saying no is hard, but it’s also essential to learn to say it as a creative and for your sanity. Here’s a tool to make your life easier. Thank me later! Templates to help you say no in any situation.
That’s it for this week’s newsletter. I will make these intermediate recommendations and random finds regularly twice a month because it’s fun to compile these, and it helps me keep a regular writing schedule.
But first: back to the usual posts in the coming weeks. I’ve got a few exciting issues scheduled and prepared, including a new series called Light Diary, where I explore different lighting techniques and share them with you. And a few more pieces taking you behind the scenes on a few recent shoots. And a few more perks are coming up, so stay tuned!
See you next week!
Ramon